Potato-digger.



J. R13U'IHER.l POTATO BIGGER.

' APPLIQTIQNHLBD AUG. 1.7, 1909. 967,556.A

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J. REUTHER.

POTATO BIGGER.

rlfLloATloN FILED 11119.17, 190e.

967,556, Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

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the usual JOHN REUTI-IER, OF EAST AURORA, NEW YORK.

IPOTATO-DIGGER.

`Spel'scation of `Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application ined August 17, 1909. serial no. 513,232.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOI-IN REUTHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Aurora, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato-Diggers,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of potato diggers having a plow or digging blade, an endless elevator which receives the potatoes, earth and vines from the plow and effects a partial or main separation of the potatoes from the earth and vines, and a shaker or secondary separator which receives the potatoes and remaining soil and vines from the elevator and effects a further and final separation thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to simplify the construction of the shaker and reduce its cost of production.

A further object is to improve the driving mechanism of the shaker with a view of increasing `its strength and durability.

The invention has the further object to improve the shaker in otherI respects as will hereafter appear.

Tn the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a potato digger embodying the invention, draft-truck `and pole being omitted. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the shakerpon an en` larged scale. Fig. 3 is a front view of the shaker, partly in section. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the crank shaft brackets andadjacent parts. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section ofthe rear portion of themachine, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section in line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional top plan view of the shaker, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal `section in line .C5-8, Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section in line 9-9, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. l0 is an enlarged cross section in line 10H10, Fig.

Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the `main axle of the machine on which the ground wheels A1 are mounted in the customary manner. This axle carries the main frame, which, in the construction shown, includes forwardly-inclined sidebars B having vertical downward extensions B1 at their rear ends.

C indicates a plow or digging blade of any suitable construction secured to the front end of the main frame, and 4D the elevator or main separator arranged in rear of the plow.

The elevator forms no part of the present invention and may be of any desired construction, that shown in the drawings consisting of a pair of endless sprocket chains E and cranked transverse rods F carried by the same.

G indicates the shaker or final separator the head of which is located underneath the discharge end of the elevator, so as to receive the potatoes, vines and remaining soil therefrom. This shaker comprises a cross head H preferably of angle iron, and upper and lower sets of tines or fingers I, Il extending rearwardly therefrom.V The tines of the upper set are spaced farther apart than those of the lower` set to allow the potatoes and soil to fall between them, but intercept the vines'. As shown in Fig. 2, the Shanks of the upper tines pass through openings lin the vertical. flange of the cross head I-l' and are thence bent downwardly to forni shoulders or offsets i, which bear against the latter, the front portions c of the shanks being parallel with and resting upon the horizontal flange of the cross head to which they are secured, preferably by a continuous clamping bar @2 overlapping the several shanks and secured at suitable intervals to the horizontal flange of the cross head by bolts 3, or other fastenings. This bar may be provided on its underside with locking seats or depressions 4 which receive said shanks, as best shown in Fig. 3, thus effectually preventing rocking or lateral displacement of the Shanks on the cross head. The tines of the lower set are preferably double, the front portions of each pair being connected by an integral bow or bend The front portions of these lower tines pass through openings' 6 in the vertical flange of the cross head H, while their connecting bows are clamped down upon the hori- Zontal flange of the cross head by the clamping bar 2. This forms a simple, secure and inexpensive tinefastening.

l/Vhen it is desired to deliver the vines at the side of the machine, the rear portions of the upper tines I are bent or curved laterally, as shown inF/ig. 7 but when they are to be delivered at theJ rear` of the machine those tines are made straight in an obvious manner. rPhe upper tines are remoyablyy secured to the cross head II by the clamping bar Z2 that straight tines for the bent ones machine for rear or required.

s shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cross head is provided on its rear side with a trans verse Vbearing-tube or sleeve J which is rigidly secured thereto by straps y' or other suitable fastenings and which extends throughout the length of the cross head. his tube loosely surrounds a transverse crankshaft K carried by a pair of crank disks Z which are mounted on short shafts Z1. The outer ends of the latter are supported in. bearings or brackets M carried by the frame extensions B1. As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, these brackets are preferably vertically adjustable, and for this purpose are provided with vertical slots a for the passage of clamping bolts al arranged in holes in the extensions B1. The crank shaft K is preferably held against rotation as well as longitudinal displacement in the crank disks Z by any suitable means. In the construction shown in the drawings, the shaft passes through longitudinal openings formed partly in the bodies and partly in the hubs of the crank disks. The ends of the shaft are reduced and flattened on their inner sides, and the latter bear against the surface of the crank-disk hubs, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, thus preventing the shaft from turning in said openings. The shoulders /c formed by reducing the ends of the shaft bear against the bottoms of said openings and hold the shaft against endwise displacement. It will be understood from the foregoing, that the rotation of the crank disks causes the crank shaft K to revolve about their axes, imparting an oscillatory up and down motion to the front portion of the shaker, as well as a longitudinal motion to the entire shaker, by which compound motion the material on the shaker is agitated and tossed rearwardly, thus effectually separating the vines and any remaining earth from the potatoes.

By extending the tube or sleeve J throughout the length of the cross head H, the tube affords a long and extensive bearing for the cross head on the crank shaft K, producing a strong and durable construction. This tube is preferably provided in its upper side with one 'or more holes jl through which oil may be fed into the same for lubricating the parts, the tube forming an oil `conduit or or equivalent means, so can be readily substituted or side delivery as desired or vice versa, to adapt the.

reservoir and being for this purpose of somewhat larger internal diameter than the diameter of the crank shaft K. These oil holes are preferably closed by removable dirt-caps consisting of split elastic bands j2 which embrace the tube, as seen in Figs. G and l0.

To check waste or discharge of the oil at the endsof the tube J, the latter is seated at its ends in recesses 79 formed in the opposing Yfaces of the crank-disks Z.

As shown, the lower portions of the brackets M are preferably united by a. tie rod (I. The shouldered crank shaft serves not only as a means of driving the shaker, but also acts as a space member which resists inward movement or deflection of the crank disks under the tension of the tie rod (I. It also aids in retaining the crank disks in axial alinement. The shafts Z1 of the crank disks may be driven by any suitable means. In the construction shown, they are provided with sprocket wheels r which are driven froln a transverse shaft s by sprocket chains s1 running around sprocket wheels a2 secured to said shaft and around the wheels r. The shaft s is driven from the ground wheels by gear wheels t, Z1, or other suitable means.

As shown in Figs. 4: and 9, the brackets M are provided at their upper ends with inwardly-extending flanges or guards m which overhang the sprocket wheels r and serve to exclude soil and vines therefrom, preventing clogging of the driving mechanism. By making these brackets vertically adjustable on the frame members B1, wear of the sprocket chains 81 can be taken up, when necessary.

The shaker is provided at opposite sides with longitudinal supporting bars a, the front ends of which are pivoted upon the upper bracket-bolts al, so that said bars can swing vertically relatively to the main frame of the machine. At their rear ends these bars are provided with grooved circular blocks or guides 'u which are mounted on transverse studs ful projecting inwardly from the bars. These guides support the outermost tines I2 of the upper set, the rear portions of which are bent around the guides in the form of hooks or loops, as shown at I3, thereby supporting and guiding t-he rear portion of the shaker. The rear port-ion of the shaker is normally supported at the proper elevation by upwardlyextending arms w secured to the side bars a, and links w1 connecting said arms with members ai of the draft frame, or by any other suitable means.

y, y/l indicate the side walls of the shaker which are secured to the side bars u, one of these walls, y, extending to the rear end of the shaker, while the other wall jI/l terminates some distance short of said end to permit lateral delivery of the vines at that side of the machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a potato digger, the combination of having its head journaled on said crank shaft.

5. In a potato digger, the combination of a frame, opposing crank disks journaled a frame, a transverse crank shaft supported thereon and having longitudinal openings thereon, and a shakercomprising side bars formed partly in the disks and partly in connected with said frame and extending their hubs, a crank shaft seated in said openrearwardly therefrom, guides carried by ings and having reduced and flattened ends said bars, a cross-head mounted on said which extend beyond said openings andbear crank shaft, and tines extending rearwardly against the surface of said disk-hubs, and from said cross head, some of said tines ena shaker having its head mounted on said gaging said guides. crank shaft. Y

2. In a potato digger, the combination of 6. In a potato digger, the combination of a frame, a transverse crank shaft supported a frame, a transverse crank shaft supported thereon, and a shaker comprising side bars thereon, and a shaker having a bearing tube connected with said frame and extending surrounding said shaft and extending rearwardly therefrom, grooved guide-blocks throughout the width of the shaker. carried by the rear portions of said side- 7. In a potato digger, the combination of bars, a cross head mounted on said crank a frame, a transverse crank shaft supported shaft, and tines extending rearwardly from thereon, and a shaker having a bearing tube said cross-head, some of said tines having surrounding said shaft and provided with hook-shaped rear ends which engage the an oil hole. grooves of said guide blocks. 8. ,In a potato digger, the combination of 3. In a potato digger, the combination of a frame, opposing crank disks journaled a frame, opposing brackets secured thereto, thereon, a crank shaft connecting said disks, a tie-rod connecting the lower portions of said disks having recesses in theiropposing said brackets, crank disks journaled on said sides, and a shaker having a bearing-tube brackets, means for rotating the disks, a surrounding said crank shaft and seated at crank shaft carried by and connecting said its ends in said recesses, said tube having an disks, and a shaker having its head jouroil hole.

naled on said crank-shaft. Witness my hand this 6th day of August,

Il. In a potato digger, the combination of 1909. a frame, opposing crank disks journaled JOHN REUTI-IER. thereon and having longitudinal openings, Witnesses: a. crank-shaft having shouldered ends seated C. F. GEYER,

in the openings of said disks, and a shaker ANNA I-Inrers. 

